US:Strauss-Kahn in farewell visit to IMF

Former IMF chief
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
was to make a farewell visit overnight to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to meet his former colleagues following the dismissal of sex assault charges.

Strauss-Kahn, who last week obtained dismissal by a judge of charges of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a hotel maid in New York, wanted to make a last visit to his former headquarters in Washington.

"The former managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has indicated that, on a personal visit to the Fund later today, he would like to have the opportunity to say goodbye to staff," according to the memo obtained by AFP.

"All staff who would like to do so can meet with him this afternoon."

Strauss-Kahn, who was arrested in May, returned to his Washington residence on Friday. He made no statement to journalists outside his home in an upscale district of Washington, waving them away with his hand.

Strauss-Kahn, 62, resigned as the IMF's managing director after he was arrested and charged in May. He was replaced in July by former French finance minister Christine Lagarde.

A New York judge approved a request by prosecutors to drop the case after they said they could not pursue the charges because the accuser's lies had made it impossible to prove her accusations beyond a reasonable doubt.